Police wrongly raid pensioner's house in Southampton

The entrance to Lorrimer Christians' home on Condor Close was smashed in with a battering ram on March 22, and the pensioner went without his front door being fully repaired for months.

Met police officers from Catford were looking for drugs but had the wrong address as they executed a warrant, and while Lorrimer received apologies from the police, he has been left shaken by the incident.

Lorrimer's door was left damaged after the raid for months. (Image: Amy Cruise) “My grandad was just getting ready for bed and they used a red key to smash it in,” his granddaughter Amy Cruise said.

“They called an ambulance for my grandad because he was in shock. But now he doesn’t feel safe, he’s living in fear that police will come through the door again.

“He doesn’t feel safe, he’s even more terrified now without a front door because how much longer is this going to get on.”

Lorrimer's door could be seen through from the inside, Amy said. (Image: Amy Cruise) Lorrimer, aged 79 at the time, was in his upstairs bedroom when he heard police arrive, and despite shouting out of his window that he was coming down, the door was smashed in.

Nine officers attended the raid, according to recounts, and at least six went into his home.

A spokesperson for the Met police said: “Metropolitan Police officers executed a warrant in Woolston, Southampton, on Tuesday, 22 March in relation to an ongoing investigation into a road traffic collision that happened in London.

“Unfortunately officers attended the wrong address as the result of human error. As soon as officers realised they apologised to the occupant of the address, and we apologise again today. We recognise this must have caused distress.

“Officers immediately spoke to the local housing association to ensure the property was temporarily made secure until full repairs are carried out.”

But after the raid, Lorrimer was left for ten and a half weeks without the front door being fully repaired, which he says was letting in cold air.

A close-up of the damage done to Lorrimer's door. (Image: Amy Cruise) “You can lock it from the inside but if you lean on it from the outside you’d go straight through it,” Amy said.

“If you’re inside the house you can see through it. He doesn’t feel safe or secure when it’s like that, he’s terrified to leave the house.”

After calling emergency maintenance on the night of March 22, Lorrimer had his door measured.

A permanent replacement door was installed yesterday, ten weeks later, after the Echo contacted housing provider Stonewater and maintenance contractor Ian Williams the day prior for a response.

Stonewater is 'committed' to ensuring residents feel safe - full response

Stonewater's assistant director of responsive repairs and capital investment, Ann Brookes, said the housing provider is "committed" to "ensuring" residents "feel safe and supported in their homes".

She said that the locking mechanism was checked on Lorrimer's door and that a contractor ensured it was "fully functional".

Ms Brookes said: "We appreciate Mr Christians’ patience while we’ve worked to replace the door damaged during this incident.

“Following an emergency call-out in the early hours of 23 March, our contractor responded promptly to make the property secure and ensure the locking mechanism was fully functional.

“They then again attended the property the next day to ensure the door remained secure.

“We have remained in contact with Mr Christians throughout the process to provide updates and reassurance.

"When the original replacement door faced some unexpected supply challenges, we resolved these by sourcing an alternative door quickly, which has now been installed to the customer’s satisfaction.”